Folded-carton packages for holding a liquid beverage, and a method of manufacture for such folded-carton packages

ABSTRACT

The present application relates to folded-carton packages for holding a liquid beverage, and a method of manufacture for such folded-carton packages. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72( b ). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72( b ): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present application relates to a folded-carton package or folded-carton packaging made of flat material as described herein below and to a method for the manufacture of such folded-carton packages or folded-carton packaging as described herein below.

2. Background Information

Folded-carton packages or folded-carton packaging of this type, in particular in the form of cardboard packages or cardboard containers, are known in a variety of realizations, including in the form of packages and containers for beverages. The prior art also includes plants in which the packages or packaging (cardboard packages or cardboard containers) are manufactured and then filled continuously, whereby the capacity of these plants is determined essentially by the relatively long cycle times required for the manufacturing of the folded-carton packages and containers and is between 6,000 and 12,000 filled and sealed folded-carton packages per hour. It would be desirable, however, to have much higher capacities, for example in the range of at least 40,000 folded-carton packages/hour or more, which is the output that can be achieved with conventional filling machines.

To achieve such outputs during the filling of folded-carton packages that are made of flat material (cardboard packages or cardboard containers), it is necessary to first fabricate these folded-carton packages separately, so that they can then be fed continuously from a dispenser to the filling machine in question. The separate manufacture of the packages, and their optional feed via a dispenser naturally requires the optional dispenser, but necessarily requires transport as well as possibly also a storage of the packages between the machine that manufactures the packages and the filling machine. This method of operation entails a high risk that the package will become contaminated by microbes or bacteria, with the resulting adverse effect on the quality and/or shelf life of the product being packaged.

Packages made of flat material are basically manufactured by first pressing together a cylindrical blank made of the flat material on one end and then sealing it fluid-tight, e.g. by welding. Then the blank is shaped by pressing it, for example, thereby forming a square or rectangular base, into a square or rectangular cross section shape, which results in the formation on two facing peripheral sides of the bottom or base of ear-like or triangular two-layer folds or material segments, which are then doubled over, in particular to stabilize the package on its outer surface, for example on the outer surface of the base or the peripheral surface, and are fixed there in a suitable manner, e.g. by means of adhesive. The ear-like material segments form pocket-like cavities which, although they are sealed fluid-tight with respect to the outside of the package, are separated from the interior of the package only by a folded edge produced during the doubling-over process.

If such packages are immediately filled with a liquid (beverage) under sterile conditions, these pocket-shaped cavities do not cause any major problems. However, if the packages are prefabricated and then must be stored for some period of time to increase the capacity during bottling, it is possible that microbes or bacteria will become established in the pocket-like cavities, will not be removed or killed or not completely removed or killed during a treatment such as by rinsing prior to filling, and will then have an adverse effect on the quality and/or shelf-life of the product being packaged.

OBJECT OR OBJECTS

The object is to eliminate this disadvantage and to describe a package made of flat material (e.g. cardboard container or cardboard package), in which the risk of microbial or bacterial contamination that will damage the contents is essentially eliminated, or substantially reduced or restricted to a level that will not result in contamination of or damage to the contents. The present application teaches a package and a method for the manufacture of such a package, as described herein.

SUMMARY

On the package taught by the present application, the pocket-like cavities formed by the triangular or ear-like material segments that stabilize the package can each be sealed or closed off from the interior of the packaging body by welding. The establishment of any microbes or bacteria in these pocket-like cavities that can no longer be removed, or can be only incompletely removed and/or killed during filling under sterile conditions may thereby become impossible. The package as claimed by the present application can therefore also be prefabricated and stored when a product that is susceptible to microbial or bacterial contamination, such as a beverage for example, is being packaged and namely, for example, for subsequent use on a high-speed filling machine.

The package claimed by the present application can be manufactured, for example, so that the triangular or ear-shaped material segment on the bottom of the package, before being doubled over, may be welded tight along the relative peripheral side of the base or on the doubled-over or folded edge produced by the subsequent doubling over, so that the pocket-like cavity can be thereby sealed fluid-tight. Then the respective material segment may be doubled over with the outside surface of the packaging, for example on the peripheral surface of the package body or on the bottom and can be fixed in place by gluing or welding. As a result of the closing or sealing of the respective pocket-like cavity, germs or microorganisms may be unable to penetrate into these cavities during the transport and/or storage of the unfilled package, so that the packages can be sterilized, for example, on machines of the type that are conventionally used in the beverage industry (rinser machines etc.) and can then be filled with a liquid product under sterile conditions.

As an alternative to the method described above, it is also possible to close the pocket-like cavities of the ear-shaped or triangular material segments or folds only after they have been doubled over. It may then be possible, after the closing of the material segments, to fix it in a further process step by suitable means, e.g. by gluing or welding, to the outer surface of the package and/or to perform this fixing simultaneously with the welding of the pocket-like cavities, e.g. by welding.

The term “bottom” or “base” is used by the present application in the very broad sense to designate the segment of the packaging that closes the interior of the package on one end of the package body and may be made from the flat material in one piece with the package body. This “bottom” or “base” may then be, for example, the underside of the package body that forms the base surface of the package. The “bottom” or “base”, however, can also be the material segment that is adjacent to the interior of the package body on the top.

The above-discussed embodiments of the present invention will be described further hereinbelow. When the word “invention” or “embodiment of the invention” is used in this specification, the word “invention” or “embodiment of the invention” includes “inventions” or “embodiments of the invention”, that is the plural of “invention” or “embodiment of the invention”. By stating “invention” or “embodiment of the invention”, the Applicant does not in any way admit that the present application does not include more than one patentably and non-obviously distinct invention, and maintains that this application may include more than one patentably and non-obviously distinct invention. The Applicant hereby asserts that the disclosure of this application may include more than one invention, and, in the event that there is more than one invention, that these inventions may be patentable and non-obvious one with respect to the other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a simplified perspective view from overhead of the bottom of a folded-carton package with a square or rectangular cross section made of a weldable flat material;

FIG. 2 shows in various positions a-e the process steps in the manufacture of the folded-carton package illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a simplified view of a welding electrode holder for the sealing and/or closing of the pocket-like cavities of the ear-shaped or triangular material segment formed during the shaping of the bottom;

FIGS. 4 and 5 show possible realizations in an illustration similar to FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 shows the steps of a possible method of unfolding folded-carton packages for holding a liquid beverage.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT OR EMBODIMENTS

The folded-carton package, which is designated 1 overall in the figures and which is intended, for example, to be used as a package for a liquid product (e.g. beverage), is manufactured from a weldable flat material by folding. The flat material is realized in a plurality of layers, and particularly layers of cardboard and plastic, whereby at least the outermost layers are formed by a plastic material, such as a thermoplastic polymer, that can be welded under the action of heat or ultrasound.

FIG. 2 shows the individual process steps in the manufacture of the folded-carton package 1 or of the base 2 of this folded-carton package illustrated in FIG. 1. First a tubular blank 3.1 is formed from the flat material or from a corresponding blank, and specifically by rolling and subsequent welding of the flat material along an edge line or surface line that runs parallel to the axis of the blank 3.1 (Position a).

Then the blank 3.1 is closed on an end that forms the later bottom 2 of the folded-carton package by doubling over and welding this end fluid-tight along a seam 4 that runs at a right angle to the axis of the blank (Position b).

In a further process step, the blank 3.1 which up to this point still has a round or oval cross section is shaped into the rectangular or square cross section of the folded-carton package 1 (Position c), namely so that the seam 4 runs parallel to two peripheral sides of the rectangular or square cross section and in the center between these peripheral sides, and at this point already forms the bottom 2 of the folded-carton package 1. The shaping of the blank 3.1 that has a round cross section into the square or rectangular cross section of the eventual folded-carton package 1 or of the packaging body 3 and the formation of the base 2 requires the formation on two sides of the base 2 that run perpendicular to the weld seam 2 or two double-layer, flat, ear-shaped folds or [triangular] material segments 5 that project laterally beyond the circumference of the blank 3.1.

In a next process step (Position d) in FIG. 2, the weld seam 4 is then doubled over on the outside of the base 2 and on the two ear-shaped material segments 5. In the conventional manufacture of a folded-carton package 1 of this type, the material segments 5 are doubled over onto the neighboring peripheral side or the bottom of the package body 3, and are fixed in position, for example by gluing.

The method taught by the present application, as illustrated in Position e in FIG. 2, and in contrast to the method of the prior art, teaches that the two ear-shaped material segments 5 are closed off from the interior of the folded-carton package 1, and specifically by producing, after the weld seam 4 has been folded over, a weld seam 6 along each side of the base 2 that has such a material segment 5, which closes the pocket-like cavity tight along the relative side of the base and isolates it from the interior of the folded-carton package 1. Only then are the material segments 5 folded over and fixed in place.

The sealing of the pocket-shaped cavities of the material segments 5 by the weld seam 6 is carried out, for example, by means of a welding electrode holder 7 which comprises two arms 7.1 and 7.2, whereby each arm forms a strip-shaped contact surface which, in the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 extends perpendicular to the plane of the drawing of this figure, and specifically over a length that is longer than the length of the weld seam 6 to be produced. Both contact surfaces are heated. In the illustrated embodiment, the electrode holder element 7.2 forms a stationary contact surface, while the electrode holder element 7.2 can pivot, so that the respective material segment can be stretched between these electrode holder elements during the welding process.

FIG. 4 shows one possible realization of the method taught by the present application, in which (realization) the pocket-shaped cavities formed by the material segments 5 are sealed only after these material segments have been doubled over on the outside surface of the package body 3, and specifically are sealed once again with a welding electrode holder 7 a which has two heated electrode holder elements 7 a.1 and 7 a.2, one electrode holder element of which is introduced into the package body 3 and whereby at least one electrode holder element can be pivoted relative to the other electrode holder element. In this embodiment, too, the pocket-like cavities of the material segments 5 in the immediate vicinity of the relative side of the base 2 on or in the immediate vicinity of the folding line are sealed when they are doubled over, whereby during this weld sealing, they are also fixed into position on the relative peripheral side of the package body 3.

FIG. 5 relates to an embodiment of the method taught by the present application in which the material segments 5 are not doubled over on a peripheral side of the package body 3, but on the bottom 2. In this realization, the pocket-like cavities of the material segments 5 are sealed by an electrode holder 7 b with the two electrode holder elements 7 b.a and 7 b.2, and specifically in the vicinity of the transition between the bottom 2 and the respective, doubled-over material segment 5. The welding electrode holder 7 has two heatable electrode holder elements, of which the electrode holder element 7 b.1 is inserted from above into the package body 3 which is open at that point and is pressed against the interior surface of the bottom 2. The packaging body 3 is supported on the other electrode holder element 7 b.2, with the material segment 5 doubled-over on the bottom.

The embodiments have been described above on the basis of exemplary embodiments, although it goes without saying that modifications and variations can be made to the invention without thereby going beyond the basic teaching of the invention.

For example, it is possible to manufacture, from the weldable flat materials, in a continuous process, a tubular primary material that corresponds to the blank 3.1 by rolling and longitudinal welding. From this primary material, the length required for a folded-carton package 1 can then be separated or cut off, and can then be processed in the same manner into the folded-carton package 1 or the package body 3 as described above in connection with FIG. 2 which illustrates the use of the blank 3.1.

It was assumed above that the triangular material segments or the sealed, pocket-like cavities formed by these material segments and sealed by welding, are provided in the vicinity of the bottom 2. It goes without saying that of course the top side of a package can be manufactured in the same way as described above, and specifically with the pocket-shaped cavities formed by the material segments 5 and sealed off from the interior of the package by welding.

An example of a known machine which prepares flattened folded-carton packages for filling with a liquid, is manufactured by SIG Combibloc International AG, of Industrieplatz CH-8212, Neuhausen am Rheinfall, Germany. One of SIG Combibloc's machines, for example, unfolds the flattened folded-carton packages according to the following method described below, which steps are shown in FIG. 6. The first step is the sleeve feed, where the machine operator loads the magazine with longitudinally sealed sleeves of the folded-carton packages straight out of the delivery box. The sleeves are vibrated and laterally aligned to facilitate separation. The second step is sleeve forming, where the sleeves are extracted individually by suction, unfolded or opened into a rectangle and slid onto a mandrel. This ensures that they are properly positioned for formation of the base. The third step is base activation, which happens in two stations, where hot air activates the appropriate areas of the base for sealing. The fourth step is base folding, where as the mandrel wheel transports the sleeve to the base welding station, the base is folded by rotating cross folders and one longitudinal folder. The final step is base welding, where the base welding plate and the front face of the mandrel press and seal the base of the carton completely. At the end of this process, the folded-carton packages are ready to be filled by a beverage filling machine.

Some examples of SIG Combibloc's folded-carton package processing machines, some components of which may possibly be utilized or adapted for use in at least one possible embodiment, may possibly be found in the following models of SIG Combibloc's machines: CFA 112-32; CFA 712-32; CFA 612-32; CFA 310-32; CFA 510-32; CFA 209-32; CFA 406-32; and CFA 909-32. An example of a device for closing boxes using ultrasonic welding which may possibly be utilized or adapted for use in at least one possible embodiment may possibly be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,924,267, entitled “Process and a device for closing filled folded-carton packages,” which patent is also owned by SIG Combibloc.

Some examples of methods and arrangements for manufacturing containers or packages, some components of which may possibly be utilized or adapted for use in at least one possible embodiment, may possibly be found in the following U.S. Pat. No. 4,268,336, issued on May 19, 1981, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,733,800, issued on Mar. 29, 1988, which patents are incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein.

One feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a folded-carton package with a folded-carton package body that is manufactured from a weldable flat material, which folded-carton package body has a polygonal cross section and is provided on at least one end with a bottom, which is produced in one piece with the folded-carton package body by the pressing and sealed closing of a cylindrical blank that forms the folded-carton package body made of the flat material along a line that runs at a right angle to the axis of the blank, and by forming the blank into the polygonal cross section of the folded-carton package body, thereby forming the base, and from triangular material segments that project beyond the edge of the base, each of which comprises two layers of the flat material and forming pocket-like cavities that are closed toward the outside, characterized by the fact that the pocket-like cavities are sealed off from the interior of the folded-carton package body by welding.

Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a folded-carton package, characterized by the fact that the pocket-like cavities are sealed tight and isolated from the interior of the folded-carton package body by welding along at least one weld seam that runs parallel to the related peripheral side of the base.

Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a folded-carton package, characterized by the fact that the weldable flat material is a multiple-ply flat material, in which at least one of the two external surface sides is made of a plastic material that is thermoplastic or can be welded under the application of heat.

Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a folded-carton package, characterized by the fact that the flat material is a multiple-ply material in which at least one ply is made of cardboard.

A further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a folded-carton package, characterized by the fact that the triangular or ear-shaped material segments are folded on the peripheral surfaces of the folded-carton package body and are fixed there, for example by welding or gluing.

Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a folded-carton package, characterized by the fact that the triangular or ear-shaped material segments that are formed during the shaping of the bottom are folded onto the base and are fixed there, for example by gluing or welding.

Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a folded-carton package, characterized by the fact that the folded-carton package body and the bottom have a square or rectangular cross section.

Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a folded-carton package, characterized by the fact that the respective at least one weld seam is located on the related peripheral side of the bottom or in the immediate vicinity of said peripheral side.

A further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a folded-carton package, characterized by the fact that the at least one weld seam extends over the entire length of the relative peripheral side or over the entire width of the respective material segment running parallel to this peripheral side.

Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a method for the manufacture of a folded-carton package with a folded-carton package body made of a weldable flat material having a polygonal cross section and with a bottom on at least one side of the folded-carton package body that is manufactured in one piece with the folded-carton package body by folding, whereby a cylindrical blank that forms the folded-carton package body and the at least one bottom is closed on one end by being pressed flat and welded along a weld seam that runs transversely o perpendicularly to the axis of the blank, and from the blank, the folded-carton package body and the bottom that has the weld seam are formed, specifically with the realization of ear-like or triangular two-ply folds or material segments that are provided on peripheral sides of the bottom, and each form a pocket-like cavity that is closed on the outside, characterized by the fact that the pocket-like cavities are sealed off from the interior of the folded-carton package body by welding.

Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a method for the manufacture of a folded-carton package, characterized by the fact that the pocket-like cavities are closed off from the interior of the folded-carton package body by welding the ear-like or triangular material segments along at least one weld seam.

Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a method for the manufacture of a folded-carton package, characterized by the fact that the respective pocket-like cavity is closed or sealed before the triangular or ear-like material segment is doubled over and fixed on the outer surface of the folded-carton package, for example onto the outer surface of the folded-carton package body and/or of the bottom.

A further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a method for the manufacture of a folded-carton package, characterized by the fact that the pocket-like cavity is closed or sealed after the crimping of the ear-like or triangular material segments onto the outside surface of the folded-carton package, for example onto the outside surface of the folded-carton package body or of the bottom.

Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a method for the manufacture of a folded-carton package, characterized by the fact that the at least one weld seam that closes the respective pocket-like cavity over its entire length is produced simultaneously or essentially simultaneously.

Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a method for the manufacture of a folded-carton package, characterized by the fact that the at least one weld seam that closes the respective pocket-like cavity is produced in a progressive or subsequent or continuous welding process.

Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a method for the manufacture of a folded-carton package, characterized by the fact that the respective weld seam that closes a pocket-like cavity is produced using a welding electrode holder that has at least two arms.

A further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a method for the manufacture of a folded-carton package, characterized by the fact that during the closing of the respective pocket-like cavity of an ear-like material segment, said segment is simultaneously fixed in place by being welded to the outside surface of the folded-carton package, for example to the outside surface of the base or of the folded-carton package body.

Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a package with a package body that is manufactured from a weldable flat material, which package body has a polygonal cross section and is provided on at least one end with a bottom, which is produced in one piece with the package body by the pressing and sealed closing of a cylindrical blank that forms the package body made of the flat material along a line that runs at a right angle to the axis of the blank, and by forming the blank into the polygonal cross section of the package body, thereby forming the base, and from triangular material segments that project beyond the edge of the base, each of which comprises two layers of the flat material and forming pocket-like cavities that are closed toward the outside, characterized by the fact that the pocket-like cavities are sealed off from the interior of the package body by welding.

Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a package, characterized by the fact that the pocket-like cavities are sealed tight and isolated from the interior of the package body by welding along at least one weld seam that runs parallel to the related peripheral side of the base.

Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a package, characterized by the fact that the weldable flat material is a multiple-ply flat material, in which at least one of the two external surface sides is made of a plastic material that is thermoplastic or can be welded under the application of heat.

Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a package, characterized by the fact that the flat material is a multiple-ply material in which at least one ply is made of cardboard.

A further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a package, characterized by the fact that the triangular or ear-shaped material segments are folded on the peripheral surfaces of the package body and are fixed there, for example by welding or gluing.

Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a package, characterized by the fact that the triangular or ear-shaped material segments that are formed during the shaping of the bottom are folded onto the base and are fixed there, for example by gluing or welding.

Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a package, characterized by the fact that the package body and the bottom have a square or rectangular cross section.

Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a package, characterized by the fact that the respective at least one weld seam is located on the related peripheral side of the bottom or in the immediate vicinity of said peripheral side.

A further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a package, characterized by the fact that the at least one weld seam extends over the entire length of the relative peripheral side or over the entire width of the respective material segment running parallel to this peripheral side.

Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a method for the manufacture of a package with a package body made of a weldable flat material having a polygonal cross section and with a bottom on at least one side of the package body that is manufactured in one piece with the package body by folding, whereby a cylindrical blank that forms the package body and the at least one bottom is closed on one end by being pressed flat and welded along a weld seam that runs transversely o perpendicularly to the axis of the blank, and from the blank, the package body and the bottom that has the weld seam are formed, specifically with the realization of ear-like or triangular two-ply folds or material segments that are provided on peripheral sides of the bottom, and each form a pocket-like cavity that is closed on the outside, characterized by the fact that the pocket-like cavities are sealed off from the interior of the package body by welding.

Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a method for the manufacture of a package with a package body, characterized by the fact that the pocket-like cavities are closed off from the interior of the package body by welding the ear-like or triangular material segments along at least one weld seam.

Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a method for the manufacture of a package with a package body, characterized by the fact that the respective pocket-like cavity is closed or sealed before the triangular or ear-like material segment is doubled over and fixed on the outer surface of the package, for example onto the outer surface of the package body and/or of the bottom.

A further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a method for the manufacture of a package with a package body, characterized by the fact that the pocket-like cavity is closed or sealed after the crimping of the ear-like or triangular material segments onto the outside surface of the package, for example onto the outside surface of the package body or of the bottom.

Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a method for the manufacture of a package with a package body, characterized by the fact that the at least one weld seam that closes the respective pocket-like cavity over its entire length is produced simultaneously or essentially simultaneously.

Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a method for the manufacture of a package with a package body, characterized by the fact that the at least one weld seam that closes the respective pocket-like cavity is produced in a progressive or subsequent or continuous welding process.

Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a method for the manufacture of a package with a package body, characterized by the fact that the respective weld seam that closes a pocket-like cavity is produced using a welding electrode holder that has at least two arms.

A further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a method for the manufacture of a package with a package body, characterized by the fact that during the closing of the respective pocket-like cavity of an ear-like material segment, said segment is simultaneously fixed in place by being welded to the outside surface of the package, for example to the outside surface of the base or of the package body.

The present application relates to a package with a package body that is manufactured from a weldable flat material in one piece with a base is fabricated by pressing and welding tight a cylindrical blank and by shaping the blank into a polygonal cross section of the package body, thereby forming the bottom, and triangular material segments that project beyond the edge of the bottom, each of which comprises two layers of the flat material and forming pocket-like cavities that are closed toward the outside. The pocket-like cavities are sealed off from the interior of the package body by welding.

The components disclosed in the various publications, disclosed or incorporated by reference herein, may possibly be used in possible embodiments of the present invention, as well as equivalents thereof.

An example of a packing container sold under the trademark name “Brik-Pak” can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,287,247, entitled “Packing laminate provided with crease lines.” Machines for assembling and filling the Brik-Pak containers are made by Tetra Pak, Inc. of 101 Corporate Hills Parkway, Vernon Hills, Ill. 60061.

The purpose of the statements about the technical field is generally to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public to determine quickly, from a cursory inspection, the nature of this patent application. The description of the technical field is believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to adequately describe the technical field of this patent application. However, the description of the technical field may not be completely applicable to the claims as originally filed in this patent application, as amended during prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, any statements made relating to the technical field are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

The appended drawings in their entirety, including all dimensions, proportions and/or shapes in at least one embodiment of the invention, are accurate and are hereby included by reference into this specification.

The background information is believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to adequately provide background information for this patent application. However, the background information may not be completely applicable to the claims as originally filed in this patent application, as amended during prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, any statements made relating to the background information are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

All, or substantially all, of the components and methods of the various embodiments may be used with at least one embodiment or all of the embodiments, if more than one embodiment is described herein.

The purpose of the statements about the object or objects is generally to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public to determine quickly, from a cursory inspection, the nature of this patent application. The description of the object or objects is believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to adequately describe the object or objects of this patent application. However, the description of the object or objects may not be completely applicable to the claims as originally filed in this patent application, as amended during prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, any statements made relating to the object or objects are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

All of the patents, patent applications and publications recited herein, and in the Declaration attached hereto, are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein.

The summary is believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to adequately summarize this patent application. However, portions or all of the information contained in the summary may not be completely applicable to the claims as originally filed in this patent application, as amended during prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, any statements made relating to the summary are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

It will be understood that the examples of patents, published patent applications, and other documents which are included in this application and which are referred to in paragraphs which state “Some examples of . . . which may possibly be used in at least one possible embodiment of the present application . . . ” may possibly not be used or useable in any one or more embodiments of the application.

The sentence immediately above relates to patents, published patent applications and other documents either incorporated by reference or not incorporated by reference The corresponding foreign and international patent publication applications, namely, Federal Republic of Germany Patent Application No. 103 603 05.0, filed on Dec. 20, 2003, having inventor Volker Till, and DE-OS 103 603 05.0 and DE-PS 103 603 05.0, are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein for the purpose of correcting and explaining any possible misinterpretations of the English translation thereof. In addition, the published equivalents of the above corresponding foreign and international patent publication applications, and other equivalents or corresponding applications, if any, in corresponding cases in the Federal Republic of Germany and elsewhere, and the references and documents cited in any of the documents cited herein, such as the patents, patent applications and publications, are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein.

All of the references and documents, cited in any of the documents cited herein, are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein. All of the documents cited herein, referred to in the immediately preceding sentence, include all of the patents, patent applications and publications cited anywhere in the present application.

The description of the embodiment or embodiments is believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to adequately describe the embodiment or embodiments of this patent application. However, portions of the description of the embodiment or embodiments may not be completely applicable to the claims as originally filed in this patent application, as amended during prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, any statements made relating to the embodiment or embodiments are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

The details in the patents, patent applications and publications may be considered to be incorporable, at applicant's option, into the claims during prosecution as further limitations in the claims to patentably distinguish any amended claims from any applied prior art.

The purpose of the title of this patent application is generally to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public to determine quickly, from a cursory inspection, the nature of this patent application. The title is believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to adequately reflect the general nature of this patent application. However, the title may not be completely applicable to the technical field, the object or objects, the summary, the description of the embodiment or embodiments, and the claims as originally filed in this patent application, as amended during prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, the title is not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b):

-   -   A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the         specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably         following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the         Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent         and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine         quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the         technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for         interpreting the scope of the claims.         Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not         intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be         interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

The embodiments of the invention described herein above in the context of the preferred embodiments are not to be taken as limiting the embodiments of the invention to all of the provided details thereof, since modifications and variations thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments of the invention.

At Least Partial Nomenclature

-   1 Package -   2 Base of the package 1 -   3 Package body -   3.4 Blank -   4 Weld seam -   5. Triangular material segment -   6 Weld seam -   7, 7 a, 7 b Welding electrode holder -   7.1, 7 a.1, 7 a.2 Arm of the welding electrode holder -   7.2, 7 a.2, 7 b.2 Arm of the welding electrode holder 

1. Folded-carton package for holding a liquid beverage with a folded-carton package body (3) that is manufactured from a weldable flat material, which folded-carton package body (3) has a polygonal cross section and is provided on at least one end with a bottom (2), which is produced in one piece with the folded-carton package body (3) by the pressing and sealed closing of a cylindrical blank (3.1) that forms the folded-carton package body (3) made of the flat material along a line (4) that runs at a right angle to the axis of the blank, and by forming the blank (3.1) into the polygonal cross section of the folded-carton package body (3), thereby forming the base, and from triangular material segments (5) that project beyond the edge of the base, each of which comprises two layers of the flat material and forming pocket-like cavities that are closed toward the outside, characterized by the fact that the pocket-like cavities are sealed off from the interior of the folded-carton package body (3) by welding.
 2. Folded-carton package as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the fact that the pocket-like cavities are sealed tight and isolated from the interior of the folded-carton package body (3) by welding along at least one weld seam (6) that runs parallel to the related peripheral side of the base (2).
 3. Folded-carton package as claimed in claim 2, characterized by the fact that the weldable flat material is a multiple-ply flat material, in which at least one of the two external surface sides is made of a plastic material that is thermoplastic or can be welded under the application of heat.
 4. Folded-carton package as claimed in claim 3, characterized by the fact that the flat material is a multiple-ply material in which at least one ply is made of cardboard.
 5. Folded-carton package as claimed in claim 4, characterized by the fact that the triangular or ear-shaped material segments (5) are folded on the peripheral surfaces of the folded-carton package body and are fixed there, for example by welding or gluing.
 6. Folded-carton package as claimed in claim 5, characterized by the fact that the triangular or ear-shaped material segments (5) that are formed during the shaping of the bottom are folded onto the base and are fixed there, for example by gluing or welding.
 7. Folded-carton package as claimed in claim 6, characterized by the fact that the folded-carton package body (3) and the bottom (2) have a square or rectangular cross section.
 8. Folded-carton package as claimed in claim 7, characterized by the fact that the respective at least one weld seam (6) is located on the related peripheral side of the bottom (2) or in the immediate vicinity of said peripheral side.
 9. Folded-carton package as claimed in claim 8, characterized by the fact that the at least one weld seam (6) extends over the entire length of the relative peripheral side or over the entire width of the respective material segment (5) running parallel to this peripheral side.
 10. Method for the manufacture of a folded-carton package for holding a liquid beverage, with a folded-carton package body (3) made of a weldable flat material having a polygonal cross section and with a bottom (2) on at least one side of the folded-carton package body that is manufactured in one piece with the folded-carton package body (3) by folding, whereby a cylindrical blank (3.1) that forms the folded-carton package body (3) and the at least one bottom (2) is closed on one end by being pressed flat and welded along a weld seam that runs transversely or perpendicularly to the axis of the blank (3.1), and from the blank (301), the folded-carton package body and the bottom (2) that has the weld seam are formed, specifically with the realization of ear-like or triangular two-ply folds or material segments (5) that are provided on peripheral sides of the bottom (2), and each form a pocket-like cavity that is closed on the outside, characterized by the fact that the pocket-like cavities are sealed off from the interior of the folded-carton package body (3) by welding.
 11. Method for the manufacture of a folded-carton package as claimed in claim 10, characterized by the fact that the pocket-like cavities are closed off from the interior of the folded-carton package body (3) by welding the ear-like or triangular material segments (5) along at least one weld seam (6).
 12. Method for the manufacture of a folded-carton package as claimed in claim 11, characterized by the fact that the respective pocket-like cavity is closed or sealed before the triangular or ear-like material segment is doubled over and fixed on the outer surface of the folded-carton package, for example onto the outer surface of the folded-carton package body and/or of the bottom (2).
 13. Method for the manufacture of a folded-carton package as claimed in claim 12, characterized by the fact that the pocket-like cavity is closed or sealed after the crimping of the ear-like or triangular material segments (5) onto the outside surface of the folded-carton package, for example onto the outside surface of the folded-carton package body or of the bottom.
 14. Method for the manufacture of a folded-carton package as claimed in claim 13, characterized by the fact that the at least one weld seam (6) that closes the respective pocket-like cavity over its entire length is produced simultaneously or essentially simultaneously.
 15. Method for the manufacture of a folded-carton package as claimed in claim 14, characterized by the fact that the at least one weld seam (6) that closes the respective pocket-like cavity is produced in a progressive or subsequent or continuous welding process.
 16. Method for the manufacture of a folded-carton package as claimed in claim 15, characterized by the fact that the respective weld seam that closes a pocket-like cavity is produced using a welding electrode holder (7, 7 a, 8 b) that has at least two arms (7.1, 8.2; 7 a.1, 7 a.2; 7 b.1, 7 b.2).
 17. Method for the manufacture of a folded-carton package as claimed in claim 16, characterized by the fact that during the closing of the respective pocket-like cavity of an ear-like material segment (5), said segment is simultaneously fixed in place by being welded to the outside surface of the folded-carton package, for example to the outside surface of the base (2) or of the folded-carton package body (3).
 18. Method for the manufacture of a folded-carton package as claimed in claim 10, characterized by the fact that the respective pocket-like cavity is closed or sealed before the triangular or ear-like material segment is doubled over and fixed on the outer surface of the folded-carton package, for example onto the outer surface of the folded-carton package body and/or of the bottom (2).
 19. Method for the manufacture of a folded-carton package as claimed in claim 18, characterized by the fact that the pocket-like cavity is closed or sealed after the crimping of the ear-like or triangular material segments (5) onto the outside surface of the folded-carton package, for example onto the outside surface of the folded-carton package body or of the bottom.
 20. Method for the manufacture of a folded-carton package as claimed in claim 19, characterized by the fact that the at least one weld seam (6) that closes the respective pocket-like cavity over its entire length is produced simultaneously or essentially simultaneously. 21-40. (canceled) 